The Santa Rosa Junior College Multicultural Museum will feature the Elsie Allen Pomo Basket Collection Friday March 3.
The exhibit consists of over 130 woven baskets from the late 1800s to the 1980s and range from the size of a pencil eraser to nearly 40 inches across. It is the only known collection of its size and was created entirely by Native American weavers; the exhibit will be on display through the remainder of 2023.
“I think that people will be excited to learn about how current Pomo basketry is,” said museum curator Rachel Minor. “I hope that they can learn that, you know, it’s an unbroken thread from multiple generations that have been passed down to people that are weaving today.”
The opening reception will start with a traditional Pomo blessing and feature three guest speakers: Elsie Allen’s granddaughter, Linda Aguilar; Allen’s niece, Susan Billy; and Silver Galleto, founder of the Pomo Weaver’s Society.
Two screenings of the film “Pomo Basketweavers: A Tribute to Three Elders” are scheduled from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 7 and from 3 p.m. to 4p.m. Wednesday, March 15. The movie will provide viewers an in-depth introduction to Pomo culture and the tradition of basketweaving. It also covers the changes in Pomo basketry after contact with non-Natives and biographical portraits of three renowned basketweavers.
Local Pomo group The Pomo Weaver’s Society will host a talk from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, March 10, to talk about weaving techniques, materials and culture. Pomo Weaver’s Society founder Silver Galleto will moderate the discussion.
Dry Creek Rancheria member Clint McKay will give a basket weaving demonstration on Wednesday, March 29, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.For more information check out https://news.santarosa.edu/breaking-traditions-celebrating-elsie-allen-pomo-basket-collection, and RSVP for specific events at https://museum.santarosa.edu/breaking-traditions-saving-traditions.
